The rising star of American tennis, Iva Jovic, has been making headlines not just for her skills on the court but also for her heartfelt message of peace at the Australian Open.

At just 18 years old, Jovic has reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal after a decisive victory over Yulia Putintseva, winning 6-0, 6-1 on Saturday. Following the match, she demonstrated maturity beyond her years by addressing the current turmoil in her homeland.

As the United States grapples with significant unrest, a journalist has been questioning American players at the tournament about their feelings competing under the American flag during such turbulent times.

While many players have opted to remain silent, simply saying “no comment,” Ben Shelton sparked interest by scribbling “USA till it’s backwards” on a television camera after his latest win.

This phrase has been interpreted by some as a stance against progressive movements, signaling staunch support for his nation despite the ongoing controversies.

On Saturday after her own match, Jovic was asked a similar question and she was clear in her own response.

Iva Jovic spoke to the media and was asked for her thoughts on the current state of America

Jovic has reached her first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal after thrashing Yulia Putintseva

‘I hope going forward that we can have a lot more peace in our country and more kindness in the way we speak to each other,’ she said.

At the start of January, the death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother who was shot and killed by an ICE agent, ignited a furious response across the United States. 

Two weeks on, federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old American citizen Alex Pretti as protests continue to escalate on the streets of Minneapolis.

At the US Open, meanwhile, Jovic has been doing her talking both on and off the court.

On it, she produced a breathtaking performance to reach the quarterfinal, thrashing this event’s agent provocateur Putintseva to set up a clash with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

What a player Jovic promises to be. She flickered on to the tennis mainstream in 2024 when she beat then-world No 42 Magda Linnette as a 16-year-old Grand Slam debutant at the US Open.

Ben Shelton sparked controversy by writing ‘USA till its backwards’ on a TV camera

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Progress has been steady thereafter but her 2026 season has had a jet-fueled start. She made the semis in Auckland and the final in Hobart, then carried that form to a first major quarter-final. Her movement is exceptional and she hits with the fearlessness of youth.

She has refined her front-foot style, too, thanks to some advice from her idol Novak Djokovic. The daughter of Serbian immigrants, Jovic spoke to her hero in Melbourne, before her third-round upset of No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini.

‘It was incredible,’ said the Californian, who faces world No 1 Sabalenka on Tuesday. ‘He gave me some very attentive tips for my game: to open up the court a little bit better, not to rush into the shots all the time, find some more width.

‘I’m just going to keep listening to Novak.’

A wise maxim for a young tennis player. Jovic cruised 6-0, 6-1 past Putintseva, who has been a star (or villain) of the tournament for her running battle with the Aussie crowd. 

Booed during both of her first two rounds, the feisty Kazakh taunted the crowd with a variety of capering jigs and dismissive hand gestures. She is a great character.

As is Daniil Medvedev, another who is not shy of going to war with the crowds. The Russian 11th seed lost to Tien in Melbourne in 2025 and the young lefty repeated the trick. Last year was a five set epic; this was a rout, including the first 6-0 set ever inflicted on Medvedev in his Grand Slam career.

The No 25 seed won 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 to set up a quarter-final with Alexander Zverev, another big name he has previously beaten.

People gather for a vigil blocks from where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents

Renee Nicole Good was shot to death by ICE agents in Minneapolis earlier this month

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz will today attempt to make it three American men in the last eight. Coco Gauff beat Karolina Muchova yesterday, meaning there will be at least three and probably four US women in the quarters, too, with pals Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys facing off, and Amanda Anisimova a favorite against China’s Xinyu Wang.

So, what about the politics? There has been an online witch-hunt for the reporter who has been posing the questions, telling him, in far less pleasant terms, to stick to tennis.

But politics will always be a valid topic of discussion in such a global sport, and Russian and Ukrainian athletes have faced many questions since the war began. 

The American players don’t have to answer, after all – and most have not – leaving, as usual, 21-year-old Gauff to be the spokeswoman. Maybe now, though, she will be joined by a new superstar in 18-year-old Jovic.